초록 ▼

A mass storage device includes a secondary bidirectional interface digital port connected to an embedded microcontroller, and a wireless communications path, such as an optical infra-red (IR) path, connected to the secondary bidirectional interface port for providing a wireless bidirectional seconda

A mass storage device includes a secondary bidirectional interface digital port connected to an embedded microcontroller, and a wireless communications path, such as an optical infra-red (IR) path, connected to the secondary bidirectional interface port for providing a wireless bidirectional secondary communications path between the embedded microcontroller and an external service unit which is not directly connected to the digital computer via a primary electrical bus structure.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A computer peripheral mass storage device for providing mass storage of user digital data to a computer and including an embedded device microcontroller, and a primary user data interface structure for passing digital user data recorded on storage media to a digital compu

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A computer peripheral mass storage device for providing mass storage of user digital data to a computer and including an embedded device microcontroller, and a primary user data interface structure for passing digital user data recorded on storage media to a digital computer electrically connected to the computer mass storage device via a primary electrical bus structure, the computer peripheral mass storage device being included in a device housing and further comprising:a front panel of the device housing accessible to the user,a bidirectional optical path extending through the front panel and viewable by the user, the bidirectional optical Path including a separating device for separating light energy into two components,a first visible light emission device operated by the embedded device microcontroller and coupled to the optical path for providing visual indication of device activity or status to the user,a second bi-directional optical light emission/detection means coupled to the optical path and providing a wireless secondary interface of the peripheral mass storage device for receiving and sending device-specific information from and to an external device-specific data source,optical path emission/detection support circuitry connected to the emission/detection means,a secondary bidirectional interface digital port interconnecting the device microcontroller and the optical path emission/detection support circuitry, for enabling the embedded device microcontroller to receive and send device-specific information from and to the external device-specific data source.